Ron S. Grace joined Greenberg Traurig LLP as shareholder in Los Angeles.

Grace serves as general corporate counsel and transactional counsel with respect to a wide variety of business transactions. He represents emerging and established companies, including those in the healthcare industry, on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic partnerships, private placements of equity securities, and general contract, securities, and health care law.

John David Loy joined First Amendment Coalition as legal director in San Diego.

Loy is a veteran civil liberties litigator who has defended the First Amendment rights of reporters, photographers, bloggers, students, teachers, activists, protesters, musicians, Marines, and motorcycle club members and has fought for public disclosure and governmental transparency for over 20 years.

Nikki Buffa was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins in Costa Mesa.

Buffa is a member of the Environment, Land & Resources Practice in the Corporate Department. She provides environmental counseling in all areas of environmental law, with a particular focus on the siting of major infrastructure projects, energy transition and renewable energy, stakeholder engagement, and crisis management. She counsels clients on a wide range of relevant state and federal regulatory regimes and has previously served in senior positions in the Obama Administration at the Department of the Interior and the White House, and on the Biden-Harris transition team.

Heather B. Deixler was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins in Bay Area.

Deixler is a member of the Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice in the Corporate Department. who counsels public and private companies operating in the healthcare industry and digital health sector on regulatory compliance, transactional matters, and data privacy and security. With a practice at the intersection of healthcare and technology, she advises a range of cutting-edge clients on emerging regulatory regimes, including innovative healthcare delivery systems, value-based payment programs, and the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in healthcare.

Kristin N. Murphy was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins in Costa Mesa.

Murphy is a member of the Securities Litigation & Professional Liability Practice in the Litigation & Trial Department. She advises clients on complex business litigation, with an emphasis on M&A, securities fraud, and class action litigation. Her recent representations include special committee engagements in controlling stockholder transactions, multi-jurisdictional litigation arising out of solicited and hostile takeover attempts, and lawsuits related to special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs).

Kevin C. Reyes was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins in San Diego.

Reyes is a member of the mergers & acquisitions practice in the Corporate Department. He represents public and private companies on a range of corporate matters, including M&A transactions, debt and equity capital markets offerings, venture capital financings, corporate governance, and securities law compliance, particularly in the life sciences, technology, consumer products, and real estate sectors.

Andrew J. Demko as partner in Los Angeles

Demko joins the firm as a partner in the Commercial Litigation and Consumer Litigation & Class Actions practices. He has represented companies in a variety of industries, including financial services, media, entertainment, technology and securities. He also has experience with environmental and employment litigation, including ERISA lawsuits and wage and hour class actions.

Allison Mallick was promoted to partner of Baker Botts L.L.P. in San Francisco.

Mallick advises clients facing complex environmental challenges, focusing on litigation, regulatory advocacy, and compliance counseling. She represents companies and industry coalitions across multiple sectors, including energy, cement, manufacturing, chemical processing, and agricultural processing.

Robert Blamires was promoted to partner of Latham & watkins in San Francisco.

Robert Blamires is a member of the Data & Technology Transactions Practice in the Corporate Department who advises clients on data privacy practices, risks, and compliance, particularly in the context of M&A, capital markets, and other corporate transactions, as well as on proactive compliance, the use of data assets, and contracts governing data sharing and processing. He also has substantial experience with the firm's Data Privacy & Security Practice.

Nicholas J Hoffman was promoted to partner of McGuireWoods in Los Angeles.

Hoffman Joins International Association of Defense Counsel. He is a trial attorney who handles a wide range of matters, including product liability, mass tort, intellectual property, unfair competition, business tort and other complex commercial disputes. He represents clients in the technology, biotechnology, medical devices, consumer products and entertainment industries.

Maxwell A. Blum was promoted to partner of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP in Oakland CA.

Max Blum is a member of the firm's Litigation and Public Law practices.

Eli Jacob Flushman was promoted to partner of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP in San Rafael.

Eli Flushman is a member of the firm's Public Law practice.

Kristin E. Charbonnier was promoted to partner of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP in San Francisco.

Kristin Charbonnier is a member of the firm's Litigation and Real Estate practices.

Temitayo Opeoluwa Peters was promoted to partner of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP in Oakland.

Temitayo ("Ope") Peters is a member of the firm's Constitutional Law, Employment Law & Litigation, Litigation, and Public Law practices.

Emily Stephens joined Greenberg Traurig, LLP as shareholder in Los Angeles.

Emily Stephens concentrates her practice on fund formation and investment management and has a deep institutional knowledge of virtually all aspects of the investment management business.

Elinor Eizdi was promoted to partner of Nossaman.

Eizdi specializes in real estate transactional law. She represents real estate developers, government agencies and independent oil and gas companies in all phases of real estate acquisitions and dispositions.

Willis Hon was promoted to partner of Nossaman in San Francisco.

Hon focuses on serving water industry clients across California on a broad range of administrative and regulatory matters.

Frank Liu was promoted to partner of Nossaman in Los Angeles.

Liu helps public agencies use innovative procurement methods to deliver highly complex and large-scale airport, highway, bridge, tunnel, transit and social infrastructure projects. His work spans every step of the procurement process.

Martin S. McMahan was promoted to partner of Yoka & Smith LLP in Los Angeles.

McMahan worked in business for several years before getting a law degree from Loyola Law School. His practice includes catastrophic injury/wrongful death defense, class-action and complex tort actions, commercial litigation, premises liability and product liability.

David Kwasniewski was promoted to partner of BraunHagey & Borden LLP in San Francisco.

David Kwasniewski is a partner at BraunHagey & Borden. David has extensive experience on both plaintiff and defense sides of complex commercial and intellectual property disputes. He has served as lead counsel in federal and state court trials, and has obtained multiple federal and state appellate victories.

David has successfully defended a number of food, beverage, and supplement manufacturers in Proposition 65, false advertising, and CLRA disputes, including obtaining dismissals of a Proposition 65 challenge to TerraSoul Superfoods' raw cacao powder and a false advertising claim against RiteAid's house-brand body wash and hand lotion. Additionally, David conducted expert discovery and served as trial counsel to Broadcom in an ITC Investigation brought against some of the largest television manufacturers in the world, which resulted in a favorable settlement. David obtained a precedential opinion from the Federal Circuit reversing the dismissal of his client's trade secret claim, brought against Goodyear for their theft of self-inflating tire technology.

David is also committed to serving clients in need on a pro bono basis. David has obtained multiple favorable Ninth Circuit rulings for former inmates whose civil rights were violated, including a precedential opinion confirming that prison officials are not due any deference when they violate rights without any security-based justification.

Evan Peña was promoted to partner of Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton LLP in San Diego.

Evan has wide-ranging experience with both large-scale class action lawsuits and single plaintiff litigation matters. He is an accomplished public speaker and has led presentations and trainings at large conferences and internal sessions regarding investigations, reasonable accommodations, and avoiding workplace harassment. He joined the firm in 2013.

Camille Gustafson was promoted to partner of Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton LLP in San Diego.

Camille joined the firm in 2014 and has developed a significant practice counseling employers to ensure their policies comply with the law. Camille also litigates wage-hour and PAGA claims and has extensive experience with matters before the EEOC, DFEH and other agencies.

Jeff Michalowski was promoted to partner of Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton LLP in San Diego.

Jeff first joined Paul, Plevin in 2013, left in 2019 to serve at the San Diego Office of County Counsel for the Appellate and Supreme Court, and has now rejoined the firm as Partner. Jeff has extensive experience litigating employment law cases in state and federal court and is a practiced appellate attorney, authoring over 75 briefs in the Courts of Appeal and handling matters before both the California and the United States Supreme Courts. He has an active pro bono practice and is also an instructor at CSUSM.

Sandy McDonough was promoted to managing partner of Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton LLP in San Diego.

Sandy was elected Managing Partner effective January 1, 2022. She joined the firm in 2000 and has focused her practice on both the public and private sector, representing employers in every aspect of employment litigation, obtaining favorable results in arbitration and in court. Sandy was recognized as one of 2020's 500 Most Influential People in San Diego by the San Diego Business Journal. She has been named to Best Lawyers® list of The Best Lawyers in America in Employment Law – Management since 2017 and San Diego Super Lawyers since 2018.

Alla Shabun Policastro was promoted to partner of Tyson & Mendes LLP in Los Angeles.

Policastro's practice focuses on defense of general liability and personal injury matters on behalf of individuals and businesses. Over the course of the past thirteen years, her litigation experience has included high exposure and catastrophic personal injury cases in the insurance and hospitality industries. Policastro also has significant experience in risk assessment and mitigation for her clients and handling all aspects of litigation to trial. She has an exceptional track record for resolving high exposure cases through negotiations and mediation even in the most adverse of circumstances

Mark Jason Austin was promoted to equity partner of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP in Santa Ana, CA.

Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP is pleased to announce that Mark J. Austin has been elevated to equity partner. Mark Austin is a member of Burke's Litigation; Public Law and Tort Claims and Products liability practices.

Thomas Darrel Jex was promoted to equity partner of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP in Riverside, CA.

Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP is pleased to announce that Thomas D. Jex has been elevated to equity partner. Tom Jex is a member of the firm’s Public Law and Education Law practices.

Kevin Drake Siegel was promoted to equity partner of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP in Oakland, CA.

Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP is pleased to announce that Kevin D. Siegel has been elevated to equity partner. Kevin Siegel is a member of Burke’s Public Law; Environmental, Land Use, and Natural Resources; and Litigation practices.

Alan Amadeo Sozio was promoted to equity partner of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP in Los Angeles.

Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP is pleased to announce that Alan A. Sozio has been elevated to equity partner. Alan Sozio is a member of the firm’s Public Law (Eminent Domain); Environmental, Land Use, and Natural Resources; Litigation; and Real Estate and Business practices.

Gregory Brian Thomas was promoted to equity partner of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP in Oakland, CA.

Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP is pleased to announce that Gregory B. Thomas has been elevated to equity partner. Greg Thomas is a member of Burke’s Litigation; Public Law; and Insurance Coverage and Litigation practices.

Samantha Wilson Zutler was promoted to equity partner of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP in San Francisco, CA.

Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP is pleased to announce that Samantha W. Zutler has been elevated to equity partner. Samantha Zutler is a member of the firm’s Public Law; Litigation; and Labor and Employment practices.

David Mehretu was promoted to principal of Meyers Nave in Oakland, CA.

Meyers Nave has elevated Of Counsel David Mehretu to Principal, effective January 1, 2022. He is an experienced litigator in areas of commercial law, employment law, civil rights and constitutional law, and land use law. Mehretu represents private sector and public entity clients on high impact matters in federal, state and appellate courts. He is widely recognized by his clients and colleagues for his ability to handle complex matters which require particularly creative and nuanced legal solutions.

Charles Edward Slyngstad was promoted to partner of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP in Los Angeles.

Charles E. Slyngstad, partner and Chair of Burke's Litigation practice, has been appointed General Counsel for the firm. Slyngstad has served as lead trial counsel in a number of high profile cases involving Burke's public sector and private sector clients. He is a certified specialist in Legal Malpractice Law by the Board of Legal Specialization for the State Bar of California. In his expanded role as Burke's General Counsel, Slyngstad will help guide decisions on all legal, risk, and compliance issues affecting the firm.

Judge Judy H. Hersher joined Judicate West as neutral in Sacramento.

Judicate West welcomes retired Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Judy H. Hersher to its exclusive roster of neutrals. She is based in the Sacramento office and is available for mediations, arbitrations and private judging and Special Master assignments statewide.

Misty Ann Murray was promoted to partner of Maynard Cooper & Gale, LLP in Los Angeles.

Murray counsels and defends insurers in matters involving coverage disputes, unfair competition, welfare benefits plans concerning ERISA benefit claims and breach of fiduciary duty, as well as insurance bad faith.

Robert Edward Hess was promoted to partner of Maynard Cooper & Gale, LLP in Los Angeles.

Hess focuses his practice on a wide range of disability, life, and health insurance litigation. Practicing at both the trial and appellate levels, Mr. Hess has litigated hundreds of cases, primarily defending insurers in cases involving insurance breach of contract and bad faith claims and ERISA‐governed cases involving employee welfare benefit plans.

Vivian Orlando was promoted to partner of Maynard Cooper & Gale, LLP in Los Angeles.

Orlando's practice focuses on life, health and disability insurance, and she routinely handles insurance bad faith litigation, and litigation involving the defense of unfair competition claims, fraud/misrepresentation claims, elder abuse claims, STOLI and IOLI claims, claims concerning insurance-related investment products, coverage disputes, long term care related disputes, customer complaints, suitability related disputes, and general business matters.

Ophir Johna was promoted to partner of Maynard Cooper & Gale, LLP in Los Angeles.

Johna focuses his practice in the areas of life, health, disability, and long-term care disputes ranging from matters involving bad faith and punitive damage exposure to ERISA-governed litigation. He also has experience representing health insurers and health care plans in payor-provider disputes and litigating matters involving agent and broker sales practices as well as insurance and annuity suitability.

Richard Bryan Hopkins II was promoted to partner of Maynard Cooper & Gale, LLP in Los Angeles.

Hopkins focuses his practice on complex litigation and regulatory matters, with particular emphasis on health care payor/provider disputes, life insurance fraud actions, business practices, claims handling practices, reinsurance, trade secrets, insolvency, and inter-company disputes. He regularly represents business entities, including insurers, health plans, underwriters and holding companies in a variety of contexts, such as federal and state class actions, arbitrations, administrative hearings, regulatory investigations and market conduct examinations.

Alison Jaroch Shilling was promoted to associate of Maynard Cooper & Gale, LLP in Los Angeles.

Shilling defends the interests of businesses and individuals in litigation and has extensive experience advising on matters involving reinsurance and insurance treaties and contracts, both domestically and internationally.

Sherry-Maria Safchuk was promoted to partner of Buckley LLP in Los Angeles.

Sherry-Maria Safchuk represents clients in regulatory and compliance matters and provides support for complex litigation and government investigations involving the mortgage, consumer, and commercial lending industries. She also has a focus on federal and state privacy and cybersecurity issues, including those related to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the California Consumer Privacy Act.

Ali Abugheida was promoted to partner of Buckley LLP in San Francisco.

Ali Abugheida represents corporate and individual clients in complex civil litigation and government enforcement actions, with a focus on matters involving the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and unfair and deceptive trade-practice statutes.

Norma Ramirez-Marin was promoted to senior counsel of Buckley LLP in Los Angeles.

Ramirez-Marin represents a variety of financial services clients on licensing, regulatory, compliance, and transactional matters.

Karen Ahearn was promoted to partner of Glaser Weil Fink Howard Avchen & Shapiro LLP - Los Angeles, CA in Century City.

Karen Ahearn, a partner in Glaser Weil's Real Estate Department, provides clients with a full range of real estate and development services. She assists clients with financing acquisitions, developments, leasing and land use. Her diversity of experience includes shopping centers, mixed-use projects and residential developments.

Before joining the Firm, Ms. Ahearn specialized in insurance coverage matters. Thus, Ms. Ahearn is in a unique position to advise clients on an entire range of ancillary issues that arise in real estate transactions, including insurance needs and indemnification agreements.

John D. Cooke was promoted to partner of Bergeson LLP in Silicon Valley.

Cooke represents clients in civil litigation, criminal and regulatory matters, and corporate investigations. Prior to joining the Bergeson firm, Cooke was an assistant U.S. attorney for 12 years in the Northern District of Illinois as well as in the Northern Districts of California and New York. He led complex investigations, prosecutions, and trials in a range of matters, including fraud, money laundering, cybercrime, public corruption, violent crime, and violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. As a result of his prosecution and trial of leaders of a violent street gang for RICO violations, John was tapped to coordinate the U.S. Attorney's Office's racketeering investigations amid an upswell in violent crime in Chicago. In addition to his experience in federal criminal litigation, Cooke represented the United States in civil litigation, including fraud matters under the False Claims Act and employment disputes.